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Having had a 2 month break (not by choice!!) from walking, I headed North intending to go round to Laggan to climb Creag Pitridh and co. but on arrival in Drumochter Pass, the cloud was quite low. I pulled into Balsporran Cottages for food and made a choice to complete the west side of Drumochter Munro's, having already climbed A' Mharconaich and Beinn Udlamain.
- A' Mharconaich & Geal-charn.
The cloud was lifting and falling at regular intervals, so I was hoping for it to eventually stay high. After following the hard track to it's end, there is then a slightly boggy path that leads to the crest where there is a set of cairns at @ 840m.
- Looking to the east side.
- A' Mharconaich & Beinn Udlamain.
Easy walking from here to reach the summit cairn.
- Geal-charn.
It started raining while I was here, so as I left the summit I decided to leave A' Mharconaich and head over to the other two instead.
- Gloomy Ben Alder Forest.
By the time I had crossed Coire Fhar and started heading back up hill, the rain stopped, cloud rose and it became quite warm, so it was an easy decision to go to A' Mharconaich after all
- A' Mharconaich.
With the bonus of the weather clearing nicely, I quickly made my way across the easy ground between A' Mharconaich & Beinn Udlamain.
- Sgairneach Mhor & Beinn Udlamain.
- Coire Creagach on Sgairneach Mhor.
- Geal-Charn & rainbow.
- Looking back to the first two Munro's.
- Distant Meall Chuaich.
- Beinn Udlamain.
Had a chat here with the only person I met all day, Ted, a sprightly pensioner, who had been on Ben Avon the previous day to finish all the Munro's East of the A9. He was doing the same tops as me, but in the other direction. The Ben Alder range was now catching sunlight and was looking grand.
- Beinn Bheoil & Ben Alder.
- Beinn Eibhinn to Geal-Charn.
It became really warm now, so after a food break, I followed the WH advice and made for Carn 'Ic Loumaidh before beginning the final ascent to Sgairneach Mhor.
- Looking to Sgairneach Mhor.
- Up Loch Ericht.
- Beinn Bheoil & Ben Alder.
- Looking West to Treig Munro's.
It's good to walk over such nice ground at times, and I was soon atop Sgairneach Mhor.
- Sgairneach Mhor.
From here, I made my way round the lip of Coire Creagach, before making a direct line down to the dolomite track in Coire Dhomhain that would eventually take me back to the start.
- A' Mharconaich & Boar of Badenoch.
- Coire Dhomhain
- Car is down there!!!!!
I would guess these hills aren't everyones cup of tea, but you do get a great feeling of isolation at times and the sheer bulk of these hills is impressive. I can imagine winter being a good time to bag these 4. Back at the car, I spotted Ted coming down the track, so being a Good Samaritan, I gave him a lift South to hi car, saving him an hours walking
and good deed done, I headed home, 2 Munro's richer
